Electromagnetic valve-controller.



J. F. McELROY.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYQ, l9l4. 1,198,737.

Patented Sept. 19,1916.

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' I. F. McELROY.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1914- Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

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. INVENTOR. $758M J. F. McELROY.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1914.

1 1 98,737 Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

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JAMES F. MCELROY, 0F ALBANY, NEW) YORK, ASSIGNGB, T0 CQNSOLIDATED CAR-HEATING GOMPAHZ, A CORPGRATION OF WEST VZRGZNIA.

E LECTBOIEAGNETIO VALVE-CONTROLLER.

Application filed May 9, 191%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James F. MoELRoY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albany, county of Albany, State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Valve-Controllers, the following being a full clear, and exact disclosure ofthe one form of my invention which I at present deem preferable.

For a detailed description of the present form of my invention,reference be had to the following specification and to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate my invention, wherein- Figure 1 shows myapparatus in connection with a pneumatic door-engine controlled thereby;Fig. 2 shows my apparatus in perspective; Fig. 3 shows the valves andtheir operating mechanism.

My invention relates to electromagnetic alve-controllers andparticularly to a reversing valve for controlling the ports of apressure-fluid engine.

lhe object of my invention is to enable me to make use of valves of theneedle type, which are not subject to the wear incident to valves ofother types, and also to operate such needle valves by means ofopen-circuit magnets. For this purpose I provide in the reverser twovalves of the needle type, but, instead of operating them directly bythe magnets, I operate them by means of a. spring which the magnetscontrol. For this purpose I interpose certain setting means by which thespring may be set to act upon the two valves alternately, and I placethe said setting means under the control of the magnets. By this means Iam able to secure a more reliable operation and am also able to useopen-circuit magnets which may be operated by circuit-closers located ata number of different points.

Turning to Fig. 1 of the drawing, A. represents my reverser and Brepresents a pneumatic door-engine controlled thereby, the door-enginebeing arranged to operate the sliding door C of a railway car.

lhe external appearance of my electromagnetic reverser is shown in Fig.2, consisting fundamentally of two tubular thimble-shaped casings D andD which are of magnetic material and each of which contains the coils ofa solenoid form of magnet..-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1? E916.

Serial No. 837,562.

S represents the core of the said solenoid whlch is reciprocated to andfro according as one or the other of the two magnet coils is energized.F represents an inlet pipe leading from a suitable source of pressuresupply, such as the auxiliary air tank of the pneumatic brake apparatus.F represents outlet pipes leading from the rcverser to two difi'erentdoor-engine cylinders; each pipe supplying one of such cylinders. F isthe exhaust pipe. E represents a casting secured between the tubularcasings D and D and serving to carry the various pipes leading to andfrom the reverser, and also to carry the two valve-chambers and valvesby which each of the pipes F leading to the engine cylindermay beconnected either to the supply pipe 13 or to the exhaust F Fig. 3 showsa portion of the inner side of the aforesaid plate E, and the twovalvechambers carried thereby. These valvechambers are formed in thecasting E, and appear externally as semi-cylindrical projections fromthe inner surface of the casting E. One of these valve-chambers is shownin section, the other being shown as it appears from the outside. fheconstruc tion of both chambers being the same, but one is described indetail. As is shown in the sectional view, the lower end of the chamberE is closed at the bottom by a screw plug 6 In a recess in this screwplug 6 is seated a coil spring G which carries the needle-valve andforces it upward, bearing against disk 72, on the valve-stem H. Justabove the disk 72, is a conical valve surface k which, when forcedupward by the spring G, serves to close the passageway between thechamber E (into which the pipeF delivers air fromthe supply reservoir)and a chamber E which communicates with the pipe F leading to the enginecylinder. lhe valve stem H is provided at its upper end with an enlargedextension H which serves as an operating pin for the valve stem. lhelower end of this operating pin H is of a conical shape and forms avalve surface 72 which, when the pin H is pressed downward, closes thepassageway between the aforesaid chamber E and the chamber whichconnects with the exhaust pipe F It will be manifest that, when thevalve-stem H is pressed upwardby the spring G, the chamber E whichcommunicates with the pipe F leading to the engine cylinder, will beshut off by the valve surface if from the chamber E which contains theair-pressure supply but will be connected, by the lifting ofvalve-surface 71, with the exhaust chamber. On the other hand, when thevalvestem H is pressed downward the valve-surface a will act to open theconnection between the aforesaid pressure-supply chamber E and the pipeF leading to the engine cylinder. At the same time the downward movementof the stem H will bring the valve-surface 763 against the openingleading from the chamber E to the exhaust, thereby shutting off theexhaust chamber from the engine cylinder pipe F The other valve will beidentical with the one I have just described and will be similarlyoperated by means of a corresponding pin H A rocker-J is pivoted at apoint midway between the two valve-pins H and H and projects across theupper end of each of the said pins. According as one end or the other ofthis rocker is depressed it will come into contact with the pin H or thepin H and, by pressing down upon it will operate the corresponding valveagainst the upward force of spring G. It will thus appear that eachvalve is provided with an operating spring G serving to actuate it inone direction, its operation in the opposite direction being produced bythe downward pressure of one end of the rocker J.

Instead of operating each of the two valves above described directly bythe magnet, I provide therefor an operating sprlng K, which isconsiderably stronger than the spring G. I, moreover, arrange settingmeans by which the force of the spring K may be applied to either one ofthe valve p'ins H or H alternately. This setting mean comprises avertical link L provided with an offset at its upper end upon which ismounted a roller Z which bears upon the upper surface of the rocker J.The upper surface of the rocker is somewhat curved so that, as theroller L moves to one end or the other of the rocker, it will roll downthe incline of the said curved upper surface, and remain set or retainedin position on whichever end of the rocker it may come. The lower end ofthe link L is jointed to the horizontal arm P of the bell crank lever bymeans of a pin 29. Said bell crank lever is pivotally supported by astationary part of the apparatus, and the arm 1", thereof 15 connectedto one end of the aforesaid spring K, the other end of the spring beingadjustably anchored to some stationary part of the apparatus. Near themiddle of the link L is jointed a shorter link R, the right-hand end ofthe link It being jointed to the link L, and the left-hand end beingjointed to the solenoid core S. The solenoid core is coil T and in theopposite direction by the coil T Each of these coils is contained in aseparate normally-open branch circuit between the trolley and the groundor between the terminals of any other suitable source of electromotiveforce. The circuit of coil T may be closed at any time by pressure onthe circuit-closer button N while the circuit of the magnet T may besimilarly closed by the circuit-closer button W The operation of thedevice is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the relative positionsshown in Fig. 3, the roller Z will rest on the left-hand end of therocker J and the link L which carries the said roller will be drawndownwardly by means of the spring K acting on the. said link through theanglelever P, P That is to say, the tension of the spring will beexerted toward the left on the lever arm P tending thereby to turn thelever arm P downward and cause it to draw down upon the link L. Thepressure of the link L and its roller Z will force the left-hand end ofrocker J down, thereby depressing the valve-pin H closing the exhaustconnection and opening the supply connection of the engine cylinder pipeF which is controlled by that -valve. At the same time the right-handend of the rocker J will be raised, thereby releasing the valve stem Hof that valve which will be moved upward by its spring G to open theexhaust connection and close the supply connection of the enginecylinder pipe F correspond to that valve. It will be understood that thelink and its roller Z have been brought to the left-hand position shownin Fig. 3 by the pulling action of the coil T on the solenoid core S andthe short link R. With the parts in the position just described, airpressure will be admitted to one engine cylindersay the cylinder whichserves to close the door C, the other cylinder being then connected tothe exhaust. Since the link L is set or retained in this position, itwill not move back, when the circuit of coil T is again broken, but willremain as it has been set by the said coil. On the other hand, when itis desired to open the door, the button VV will be pressed momentarily,thereby energizing the coil T which will draw the core S to the right,thereby causing the link R to throw the link L and its roller Zto therighthand end of the rocker'J, the movement of said link L being uponthe pivot p, the tension of spring K serving to practically prevent anymovement of the bell crank lever. This movement of link L will reversethe valve connections, depressing pin H and valve 7& of the right handchamber E and the engine-cylinder which was formerly connected toexhaust will receive air pressure, while the other cylinder, whichformerly received air pressure, will be connected adapted to be moved inone direction by the ago the exhaust. The relative positions of 139 thelinks R and L remain practically un- V changed, the jointed connectionsof the link direction or the other, it requires only amomentary closureof one of the magnet coils to put the apparatus in either one of its twooperating positions. The pivotal point of the rocker J constitutes adead center and the spring by acting upon one side or the other of thisdead center causes the operation of the two valves alternately in themanner above described.

That I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric reverser, the combination with two valves eachcontrolling inlet and outlet ports, a rocker member to selectively moveeither of said valves, electromagnetic means engaging said rocker memberand movable relatively thereto to actuate the same, and means forconstantly maintaining a yielding pressure upon said rocker member.

2. In an electric reverser, the combination with two valves eachcontrolling inlet and outlet ports, a rocker member to selectively moveeither of said valves, a pivoted actuator for engaging said rockermember and movable relatively thereto to actuate the same, means forconstantly maintaining a yielding tension upon said actuator, andelectromagnetic means for operating said actuator.

3. In an electric reverser, the combination with two valves each"controlling inlet and outlet ports, of independent valve springstherefor, each actuating its valve in one direction, a rocker memberengaging said valves to selectively move them in opposition to saidsprings, an actuator engaging said rocker member and movable relativelythereto, electromagnetic means for shifting said actuator, and a singlespring for constantly maintaining a yielding tension upon said actuator.

4. In an electric reverser, the combination with two valves eachcontrolling inlet and outlet ports, a rocker member engaging said valvesto selectively move either of them, an actuator engaging said rockermember and movable relatively thereto, two magnets for moving saidactuator in opposite directions, normally open circuits for therespective magnets, and circuit closers for the respective circuits.

5. In an electric reverser, the combination with two valves, a rockermember engaging said. valves to selectively move either of them, anactuator supported and movable independently of said rocker member andhaving a portion overhanging and engaging said rocker member to actuatethe same, electromagnetic means for operating said actuator, and meansfor constantly maintaining a yielding tension upon said actuator.

6. In an electromagnetic valve-controller, the combination with a valve,and a spring for actuating the valve in one direction, a rocker memberfor moving the valve, in. the other direction, a dead-centered actuatorfor said rocker member movable independently of and relatively to saidrocker member, means for constantly maintaining a yielding tension uponsaid actuator, and electromagnetic means for imparting movements to saidactuator.

7. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, a pivoted actuator movable relativelyto the rocker member, electromagnetic means for imparting pivotalmovement to the actuator, and means for constantly maintaining ayielding tension upon said actuator.

8. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, a pivoted actuator movable relativelyto the rocker member and having a portion in frictional engagement withthe rocker member, electromagnetic means for imparting pivotal movementto the actuator, and a spring connected with the actuator to maintain aconstant yielding tension thereupon.

9. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, a bell crank lever, an actuatorpivotally supported by said bell crank lever and having a portion infrictional engagement with said rocker member, electromagnetic means forimparting pivotal movement to the actuator, and means connected withsaid bell crank lever for maintaining a constant yielding tension uponsaid actuator.

10. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in onedirection, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, an actuator movable independently ofthe rocker member and having a roller engaging said rocker member,electromagnetic means for imparting pivotal movement to said actuator,and means for maintaining a constant yielding tension upon saidactuator.

11. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, a bell crank lever, an actuatorpivotally supported by said bell crank lever and having a rollerengaging said rocker member, electromagnetic means for imparting pivotalmovement to the actuator, and a spring connected with the bell cranklever for maintaining a constant tension upon said actuator.

12. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a spring foractuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member for movingthe valve in the other direction, an actuator having movable engagementwith said rocker member, a core connected with said actuator,electromagnetic means for shifting said core longitudinally, and meansfor maintaining a constant yieldable tension upon said actuator.

13. An electromagnetic valve controller comprising a valve, a. springfor actuating the valve in one direction, a pivoted rocker member formoving the valve in the other direction, an actuator having movableengagement with said rocker member, spaced apart magnets, a single corefor both magnets, a link pivotally connected with the core and with theactuator, and means for maintaining a constant yieldable tension uponsaid actuator.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, before two subscribingwitnesses this 6th day of May, 191

JAMES F. MGELROY.

lVitnesses HERBERT A. CALKINs, JAY A. ROBINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

